US enjoys ‘strong relations’ with Pakistan, says Mark Toner

WASHINGTON: United States Department of State Spokesperson Mark Toner said Pakistan-US relations had not hit a low point but were in fact strong.

Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, Mark Toner said US Secretary of State John Kerry not visiting Pakistan during his recent tour of Asia should not be tied to Pakistan-US relations. John Kerry recently visited Middle East and Asian countries, including India and Bangladesh.

“John Kerry’s official visit to India was to accomplish strategic and business objectives,” Toner said, adding that before this Kerry had visited Pakistan and stays in contact with officials in Pakistan.

The spokesperson said the US was working with Pakistan to counter terrorism in the region.

During his visit to India, Kerry had urged Pakistan to do more against militants in the country.

“It is clear that Pakistan has work to do in order to push harder against its indigenous groups that are engaged in extremist activities,” he had said. “In fairness, the Pakistanis have suffered greatly from terrorism in their own country. All of us need to be supportive and also understanding of how difficult it is to take it on step by step.”